Teel Time: More reaction to ACC's 'great strategic move' with grant of rights

Late Monday mornings are usually reserved for work. You know, jobs, parenthood, errands. But when David Glenn, publisher of the ACC Sports Journal, tweeted that the conference’s 15 current and future members had agreed to a media grant of rights, countless took notice.

About 90 minutes later, league HQ in Greensboro confirmed Glenn’s break: Through 2026-27, ACC schools forfeit their entire share of the conference’s media revenue if they leave.

Here’s a sampling of reaction:

* “In my opinion, any potential realignment of the Atlantic Coast Conference ended with this vote. Today was a great day for the league and for all the members of the league. … I would describe it as a great strategic move by the league and its members to solidify our future.” — Miami athletic director Blake James to the Associated Press.

* “Essentially what this does is this not only legally binds everybody to it, but it also puts in place some teeth into what we've been saying that everybody believes, which is that we were going to be together, we were going to move forward together. … The interesting thing about this was that everybody felt great about it. This wasn't a case of anybody along the way saying, 'We're not sure we want to do this.' Everybody was committed to doing this and said it's important that we do this.” — Pittsburgh athletic Steve Pederson to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

* “I think this was a chance to look at each other in the eye and really commit something that was long term and meaningful. I think it’s a great day for Georgia Tech and a great day for the ACC.” — Georgia Tech associate athletic director Wayne Hogan to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

* “These are strong and definitive moves by the ACC and its member schools to further announce our desire to stay together and position ourselves among the top conferences in the country. We look forward to continued talks with the ACC and ESPN on how to best strengthen and position our multi-media package. The ACC has been one of the premier academic and athletic conferences for 60 years and its membership going forward only strengthens and advances our standing among our national peers. Today’s announcement should put (conference) realignment on the shelf. It’s time to put the focus back on celebrating the successes of our students and teams.” — North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham in a statement.

* “This is an important moment in the history of the ACC, which has been Duke's home for nearly 60 years. It signals our united commitment to ensuring the future stability of the conference and will enable us to focus on the development of our student-athletes and the spirited competition for which the ACC has always been known.” — Duke president Richard H. Brodhead in a statement.

* “The added resources coming to the ACC schools will have a significant impact on the success of our athletic programs. We are also very pleased that we will be moving forward on the next phase of developing an ACC network. The vote of the ACC presidents will ensure that the conference will strengthen its position of leadership among Division I athletics.” —Florida State president Eric Barron in a statement.

* “It’s a tremendously exciting time for the conference. Commissioner (John) Swofford and the presidents really took a long look at what it would take to bring stability to the league. They talked to our media partner, ESPN, and looked around the country to see what options might be available. … [The grant of rights] certainly seemed to be a cementing factor [to keep the ACC intact] for the foreseeable future and hopefully longer than that.” — Clemson athletic director Dan Radokovich to Sports Talk S.C.

* “I know one thing, it calms the waters in Louisville. That’s all that matters. ... There’s not going to be many places to go to reach out to other schools. ... It absolutely could not be better for us. … I think once everybody got in the same room together it was obvious to me at least. ... They’re a very cohesive group, and a very strong, united group, and I was very impressed with that.” — Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

* “To be sure, today’s grant of rights announcement by the Atlantic Coast Conference is monumental as it clearly shows the unwavering long-term solidarity of the ACC member institutions. Since its inception, the ACC has provided the perfect home for Duke athletics. Sixty years later, that remains the same.” — Duke athletic director Kevin White in a statement.

* “In light of all of the conference transitions and alignments, this news is simply extraordinary. To solidify the ACC now and in the future with such fantastic media opportunities reflects the unprecedented leadership in the conference. The existing partnership between the ACC and ESPN showcases the tremendous traditions of both institutions and provides a maximum opportunity to broadcast the outstanding talents of the conference. From a women’s basketball perspective, this illustrates the incredible dominance of the ACC relative to the commitment to our sport.” — Duke women’s basketball coach Joanne P. McCallie in a statement.

I can be reached at 247-4636 or by e-mail at dteel@dailypress.com. Follow me at twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP